Description

Adventure Travel, Chile, Bicycling, E-bikes

Cristian Levy
CEO
Amity Tours

Hi, I'm Cristian Levy, Founder & CEO, father, husband, cycling enthusiast and passionate skier. Master Degree in Hotel Management and Tourism Business Administration.

My father and I started Amity Tours in 2003. We are a boutique inbound tour operator in Chile, specializing in 4 products: Bike tours, Hiking tours, Skiing tours and Conservation tours. Likewise, we offer Multisport trips, Family Adventures and Woman tours. Our headquarters are located in Pucon, the Capital of Adventure Travel in Chile.

I live 3 months in the Bay Area California and 9 months in Chile's Lake and Volcano District. I am responsible for developing new businesses with European, North American and Latin American clients and strategic alliances with key tour operators around the world. Currently, I'm leading a project to become the first zero waste and carbon neutral adventure company in Chile.

https://www.amity-tours.com/

Show Summary

Cristian Levy, the founder of Amity Tours, shares his journey in the adventure travel industry and the growth of his company over the past 20 years. He discusses the opportunities and challenges he faced, including the development of bicycle tourism and the introduction of electric bikes. Cristian highlights the importance of saying yes to new opportunities and adapting to changing market demands. He also emphasizes the role of technology in the industry and the need for guides to be trained in the latest advancements. Overall, Cristian's story showcases the evolution of adventure travel and the resilience required to succeed in the industry. In this conversation, Jason Elkins speaks with Cristian Levy, the founder of Amity Tours, about the importance of being a team player in the guiding industry. They also discuss the composition of Amity Tours' international team and the role of a bike nerd in the company. Cristian shares insights into their carbon footprint and emissions report, highlighting the impact of air travel on their operations. He explains the process of carbon offsetting and tree planting to compensate for their emissions. 

Takeaways

• Opportunities in the adventure travel industry can arise unexpectedly, and it's important to have the courage to say yes and adapt to new challenges.
• Developing infrastructure and creating unique experiences are key to attracting tourists and growing the adventure travel market.
• The introduction of electric bikes has opened up new possibilities for adventure travel, allowing people of different fitness levels to enjoy cycling tours.
• Technology plays a significant role in the industry, and guides need to be trained in the latest advancements to provide the best experience for clients. Being a team player is the most important skill for guides at Amity Tours.
• Amity Tours has an international team to balance cultural aspects and cater to their international clients.
• The company has a "bike nerd" who takes care of the bicycle fleet and software updates.
• Amity Tours conducted a carbon footprint and emissions report, discovering that air travel contributes to 88% of their total emissions.
• The company is committed to sustainability and is a leader in the adventure travel industry in Chile.
• Amity Tours plants trees to offset their carbon emissions, partnering with indigenous communities for tree planting projects.

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